Method of feeding and cutting filters



G. DEARSLEY 3,238,825

METHOD OF FEEDING AND CUTTING FILTERS ll Sheets-Sheet 1 March 8, 1966Original Filed May 18, 1955 X A 5 Q 102 11 10a a T ,1 104 96 TM fiiii 12w 9211 E 90 T g I- f 2/0 114' INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 8, 1966 e.DEARSLEY 3,238,325

METHOD OF FEEDING AND CUTTING FILTERS Original Filed May 18, 1955 llSheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2 F165 INVENTOR GEORGE DEARSLEY ATTORNEY 8, 1966 G.DEARSLEY 312389325 METHOD OF FEEDING AND CUTTING FILTERS Original FiledMay 18, 1955 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR GEORGE DEARSLEY ATTORNEY March8, 1966 G. DEARSLEY 3238,25

METHOD OF FEEDING AND CUTTING FILTERS Original Filed May 18, 1955 llSheetsSheet &

INVENTOR GEORGE DEARSLEY ATTORNEY March 8, 1966 e. DEARSLEY 3,238,825

METHOD OF FEEDING AND CUTTING FILTERS Original Filed May 18, 1955 llSheets-Sheet 5 ma 61 FIG] 709 61 79 176 722 A24 pg 51 61 2:9 79 a1 61 x9F|G9 116 INVENTOR GEORGE DEARSLEY ATTORNEY METHOD OF FEEDING AND CUTTINGFILTERS Original Filed May 18, 1955 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG.I0

INVENTOR GEORGE DEARSLEY ATTORNEY March 8, 1966 G. DEARSLEY 3,238,825

METHOD OF FEEDING AND CUTTING FILTERS Original Filed May 18, 1955 11Sheets-Sheet 7 M4 FIG. m

FIG. II

INVENTOR GEORGE DEARSLEY ATTORNEY March 8, 1966 G. DEARSLEY 3,233,325

METHOD OF FEEDING AND CUTTING FILTERS Original Filed May 18, 1955 11Sheets-Sheet 8 Fl G I5 210 INVENTOR GEORGE DEARSLEY ATTORN EY March 8,1966 e. DEARSLEY 3,238,825

METHOD OF FEEDING AND CUTTING FILTERS Original Filed May 18, 1955 llSheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR GEORGE DEARSLEY ATTORNEY March 8, 1966 e.DEARSLEY 3,238,825

METKOD OF FEEDING AND CUTTING FILTERS Original Filed May 18, 1955 l1Sheets-Sheet 10 FIG l9 FIG .20

"i l 227 V I i I! r I 228 1 t 22.6

L Dr l 216 INVENTOR 213 GEORGE DEARSLEY ATTORNEY March 8, 1966 G.DEARSLEY METHOD OF FEEDING AND CUTTING FILTERS 11 Sheets-Sheet 11Original Filed May 18, 1955 INVENTOR GEORGE DEARSLEY ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 3,238,825 METHOD 0F FEEDING AND CUTTING FILTERS GeorgeDearsley, Raleigh, N.C., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company,a corporation of New Jerse Applica t ion July 23, 1959, Ser. No.829,007, which is a division of application Ser. No. 509,293, May 18,1955, now Patent No. 3,036,581, dated May 29, 1962. Divided and thisapplication Feb. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 266,122

6 Claims. (Cl. 83-25) This invention relates to a method for supplyingand cutting filter plugs for use in mouthpiece cigarette makingmachines, and particularly to that method which will allow the length ofmouthpiece cut to be adjusted as desired.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 829,007,filed July 23, 1959, and now abandoned, which in turn is a division ofmy application Serial No. 509,293, filed May 18, 1955 and now Patent3,036,581, issued May 29, 1962.

The length of cigarettes and mouthpieces produced by differentmanufacturers may vary, depending on the publics preference. Since thismay also change from time to time, the length popular at one particulartime may have to be altered at another. The purpose of the presentinvention is to provide a mouthpiece cigarette making machine which willenable cigarettes having one length of mouthpiece material to bemanufactured at' one time and cigarettes having another length ofmouthpiece material to be made at another time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine havingpositionally fixed rotating plug cutting knives, and adjustable stopsand guide means for varying the relative position of the filter plugmaterial with relation to the knives, so that predetermined plug lengthsmay be cut thereby.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved means forsevering multiple plugs so that they will be of the uniform size.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjust-able filtertip supplying and cutting device which is adaptable for mounting onvarious makes of cigarette making machine.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable filtertip attachment which is capable of operating as rapidly as aconventional cigarette making machine and which will not necessitatesetting up filter tip supplying and cutting machines in separate floorspace or require the rearrangement or reorganization of cigarette makingprocedure in a cigarette manufacturing plant to adapt itself to themanufacture of filter tip cigarettes having the length of mouthpiecematerial desired.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as thedescription of the particular physical embodiment, selected toillustrate the invention, progresses.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification,like characters of reference have been applied to corresponding partsthroughout the several views which make up the drawings.

FIG. 1 is -a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating thecomponent parts of the cigarette filter tip mechanism.

'FIG. 2 is :an end elevation, taken on line 2-2, of FIG. 1, illustratinga portion of the hopper, the plug receiving drum in conjunction with thecutting mechanism and the separating drums.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation, taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, showing theplug drum.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the plug separating drums taken on line4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a plan view partially in section taken on line "ice 5-5 ofFIG. 1, illustrating a portion of the cigarette carrier drum inconjunction with the cigarette infeed and separating mechanism at thecigarette infeed station.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of thecigarette filter plug assembly station illustrating a portion of thecigarette carrier drum in conjunction with the tip material carryingsuction drum and cutting mechanism.

FIG. 7 is an end elevation of the tip material carrying suction drum,taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional end elevation of a peripheral portion ofthe suction drum, taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional end elevation of a peripheral portion ofthe suction drum, taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a partial end elevation of the cigarette carrier drum at thecigarette filter plug assembly station taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a partial sectional end elevation of a peripheral portion ofthe carrier drum in conjunction with the cigarette guiding means, takenon line 11-11 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is an end elevation of the cigarette cutting drum in conjunctionwith its separating means at the cigarette delivery station, taken online 12-12 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a sectional side elevation of a sextuple length hollowmouthpiece filter plug.

FIG. 14 is a sectional side elevation showing how a sextuple lengthhollow mouthpiece filter plug is severed into three double length hollowmouthpiece filter plugs.

FIG. 15 is a sectional side elevation illustrating how a double lengthhollow mouthpiece filter plug is placed between two cigarettes andassembled by means of a cork band.

FIG. 16 is a sectional side elevation of a single cigarette with ahollow mouthpiece filter tip.

FIG. 17 i an end elevation illustrating a single drum coacting with aconcave member for prerolling filter plugs.

FIG. 18 is an end elevation illustrating a plurality of oppositelyrotating drums for pre-rolling filter plugs.

FIG. 19 is a side elevation illustrating a cigarette reversing mechanismat the delivery station of the filter tip machine.

FIG. 20 is a plan View of the same.

'FIG. 21 shows another embodiment of the apparatus for separating andsubdividing multiple lengths of rod-shaped articles into equalsubdivisions.

My filter tip attaching machine is adapted to be secured to the end of acigarette making machine where the finished cigarettes F are dischargedfrom the cut-off and spacing belt, such as that shown in US. Patent2,247,413 issued to R. E. Rundell on July 1, 1941. Since the presentfilter tip attachment is capable of operating at the rate of 1,000cigarettes per minute, or at a still higher, or lower speed if thatshould be desired, which are the approximate speeds of conventionalcigarette machines in use today, there is no need for a manufacturer tobuy new cigarette making machines to make filter tip cigarettes.

My cigarette mouthpiece attaching apparatus consists of a mouthpiecehopper 10 into which a supply of sextuple lengths of mouthpieces areplaced. Mouthpiece material is commonly purchased in sextuple lengths tofacilitate handling. The embodiment of the mouthpiece cutting andaligning apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 consists of the inclined floorplate 12 of the hopper and the slanted side gate 14 which are agitatedor oscillated by means of a suitable vibrator. In this embodiment thisis accomplished by the cam roller 16 engaging with the hexagonalrotating cam 18. FIG. 21 described hereinafter shows another means foroscillating the slanted side gate 14. The agitator floor plate 12 has aspring mounting at one end which permits the plate to be readilyagitated when the filter tip attachment is operated.

The sextuple lengths of cigarette plugs 11 roll downwardly out throughthe space between the lower end of oscillating gate 14 and agitatorfloor plate 12 into the reservoir 22 made up of a side wall 24, a plugreceiving and conveying drum 26 and the refuser wheel 28 (FIG. 1). Theplug receiving and conveying drum 26 rotates in the direction indicatedby the arrow and has plug receiving grooves 3i) cut transversely acrossthe periphery of the drum 26. As the drum 26 rotates and the grooves 30pass under the reservoir 22 holding the sextuple lengths of filter plugs11, an individual sextuple length of cigarette filter will fall underthe action of gravity into each of the grooves or pockets 30.

In the event that two or more sextuple lengths of filter plug materialpartially fall into the same groove the rotating refuser wheel 28 pushesback the excess, so that only one sextuple length of filter plug isallowed to remain in each pocket 30 when it passes under the stationary,spaced retaining wall 32.

The refuser wheel 28 is so constructed that the teeth on the refuserwheel 28 rotate in timed relationship with the flutes or pockets 30 andin such relative angular position that a moving face is always presentto remove any filter plug which may otherwise jam against the filteralready nested in grooves 30 of drum 26.

Suitable flexible side guides 33 and 33a are provided for plowing overand urging each sextuple length of filter plug material up against theadjustable stop plates 31 and (FIG. 2). The stationary guide members 31and 35 may be moved in or out independently by means of a suitable screwadjustment 25 and 27 which can be set during the operation of themachine. By adjusting members 31 and 35, the lengths of the doublelength of filter plug material that is severed can be readilycontrolled.

It will be appreciated that while flexible side guides 33 and 33a haveboth been shown on one side of the device and the adjustable stop plates31 and 35 on the other side thereof, these may be alternately positionedon either side of the device if required, without departing from thespirit of the invention.

As the drum 26 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow, a firstrotating disc knife 34, extending through a suitable slot (not shown)formed in the retaining walls 32 and into an annular groove 37 formed inthe drum 26, severs a double length from the sextuple length of filterplug material as it passes between the flexible side guide 33 and theguide head 31.

As the plug receiving and cutting drum 26 continues its rotation, itbrings the filter plug material between the flexible guide 33a and asecond adjustable guide member 35. The flexible guide 33a urges thefilter tip material up against the guide member 35.

It will further be appreciated that the plug may be positioned in theproper relationship against the stops 31 and 35 relative to the lowerknife in a number of other ways, as for example, by mechanical plowing,by blowing, or timed hammer action, etc. (not shown).

By measuring from one end of the material in this manner, the spaceoccupied by the knife when severing is automatically allowed for,because the first duplex length is severed to the desired lengthirrespective of knife thickness after which the two portions of theinitial length of filter are reassembled in axial abutment to permitaccurate measurement from the same end to the second cutting plane.

Since guide member 35 may also be adjusted in and out by means of itsscrew mounting 25, the point at which the second knife 36 severs thequadruple length may be readily set either when the machine is stoppedor when the machine is running.

By this unique cutting arrangement the length of the three sectionsproduced can be readily changed to accommodate a ditferent sextuplelength than was previously used with the machine. When a pair of knivesare mounted to cut through a plug simultaneously it is impossible tovary the length of the center sections without relocating the cuttingknives and changing the position of the annular grooves 37 and 39.

In other words, in this invention, I relocate the plug material prior toeach cutting operation, rather than change the spacing of the cuttingknives. As a consequence it is easy to accommodate sextuple length plugsof various lengths for cutting into three equal duplex lengths. Thesecond cutting knife 36 similarly extends through another groove or slot(not shown) formed in the retaining walls 32 and into an annular groove39 of the drum 26. As mentioned, this knife 36 severs the quadruplelength of filter tip material into two double length filter plugs as itpasses between the side guide 33a and the other guide head 35.

As the drum 26 continues its rotation, the double lengths of filter tipmaterial are held in the grooves 30 by means of the retaining plate 32until they are brought above the pockets of the plug separating drums38, 40 and 42 shown in FIGURES l and 2 which rotate in the directionindicated by the arrow, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The double length filter plugs 41 are stripped from the cutting drum 26by means of extensions 44, 46 and 48 of the double length retainingguide walls 50, 52 and 54, in the same manner as described in mycopending patent application S.N. 509,293 filed May 18, 1955, now Patent3,056,581, issued May 29, 1962. As the double lengths of filter plugtravel on the plug separating drums 38, 40 and 42, they are separatedcircumferentially each from the other. At receiving station A, FIG. 1,the three plugs are in longitudinal alignment, each in an individualgroove in an individual one of the three drums. Drum 40, however,rotates slightly faster than drum 38 and drum 42 rotates slightly fasterthan drum 40, so that by the time they reach station B only one doublelength filter plug at a time will be stripped from its respectiveseparating drum 38, 40 and 42 into a groove of a plug aligning drum 56(FIGURES l and 3) which rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow.This stripping action is effected by the strippers 58, 60 and 62 whichextend into suitable grooves 43, 45 and 47 formed in the plug separatingdrums 38, 40 and 42.

As a consequence one double length filter plug is discharged into eachof the pockets 64 of the plug aligning drum 56. As the plug aligningdrum 56 carries the individual double length filter plugs around with itthe double length filter plugs are held in their pockets by a suitableguide wall 66. As the double length filter plugs continue their rotationwith the pockets 64, the ends of the double length filted plugs 41 comeinto engagement with the spaced plug aligning cams 68 and 70.

As the drum 56 continues its rotation in the direction indicated by thearrow, the double length filter plugs, because of their engagement withthe aligning cams 68 and 70, are moved axially along the length of theirrespective pockets 64, so that by the time they reach station C they areall in the same position aligned in a row in side-by-side spacedrelationship, as shown in FIG. 3. The plugs are then discharged bystripper into suitable roller receiving pockets formed on the peripheryof the assembly drum 72 in between two lengths of cut cigarette rod.Each pocket is made of three pivoted rollers, a short roller 76 oneither side and longer inside roller 74.

The cut lengths of cigarette rod received from the cigarette makingmachine are spaced axially by suitable means such as speed-up roller 49in a manner similar to that disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,124,397 grantedto G. W. Gwinn et al. on July 19, 1938. A pair of suitable rubberrollers 80, shown in FIGURES 1 and 5, spaced from a stationary table bed82 slow down the lineaer travel of the lengths of cigarette rod byengaging therewith. Suction is applied to the table 82 by means of asuction head 84- through which tobacco particles are withdrawn.

A kicker plate 281 is reciprocated horizontally by means of the crank 08to push a pair of cut cigarette lengths F from between the retardingrollers and the supporting table 82 into the pockets formed by the nestof rollers 74 and 76. The cigarettes so discharged, into the pockets ofthe cigarette assembly drum 72, are moved apart by means of a pair ofrubber rollers 86 rotating in opposite directions, so that when thelengths of cigarette rod pass station C there will be sufiicient spacein between the cigarettes for the plug aligning drum to discharge itsdouble length filter plug therein.

The cigarette assembly drum 72 rotates continuously in the directionindicated by the arrow, carrying with it the assembly of two spacedcigarette lengths and a double length filter plug located therebetweenin the pockets formed by the rollers 74 and 76.

A guide bar 05 partially extends around and is spaced from the peripheryof the path of rotation and employed for the purpose of properly seatingthe plugs between the cigarettes F in their respective pockets. A jamgate 90 is pivotally mounted on a suitable pivot 92 so that if more thanone cigarette, filter stub or some other substance should manage to fallinto the pockets formed by rollers 74 and 76 the excess pressure wouldlift up the jammed gate 90 which in turn would actuate a suitablem-icnoswitch 94 which would stop the cigarette making machine.

As the assemblies of double filter plugs and cigarette lengths continuetheir advance, they are gradually brought into abutment by means of astationary guide 95 coacting with guide 97 as shown in FIGURES 5 and 10.The extreme end of the guide 97 is provided with a yieldable springmounted guide shoe 99 which is employed for the purpose of achieving afirm abutment between the cigarette lengths and the double filter plugs.

The abutting cigarette lengths F and double length filter plug 41 arejoined together by means of a uniting band T which is rolled around theassembly.

The uniting band material TM, as shown in FIG. 1, is fed from a reel 90over pulleys 90 and 100 and between feed rollers 102 and 103 and over apaste applying roller 104 and around another guide roller 106 in thedirection indicated by the arrows on to the band conveying suction drum100. The feed rollers 102 and 103 are kept in constant engagement by atension spring connected to an arm 107 to which the feed roller 103 ispivoted. Adhesive material is stored in the glue pot 110 and is removedtherefrom by a roller 112 which has excess paste trimmed therefrom bymeans of an adjustable scraper blade 114. The roller 112 engages withthe paste applying roller 104 which transfers the glue to the under sideof the uniting band material TM.

In the event the filter tip attachment is stopped for any reason, thearm 116 carrying a band engaging extension 117 is elevated, lifting theuniting band material TM out of engagement with the glue applying roller104 and into engagement with the stationary stop 119 so that the unitingband material will not adhere to the roller 104 and will be preventedfrom being pulled off the reel 96 by the movement of the suction drum108 by reason of the fact that TM is gripped between extension 117 andstop 119.

The arm 116 simultaneously depresses the arm 107 thereby disengaging thefeed roller 103 from the web TM and feed roller 102, thus effecting astoppage of further feeding of the tip material TM.

The drum 108, as shown in FIG. 6, has hard insert blocks 118 mounted atspaced intervals transversely across the periphery of the drum. Theseinserts 118 are so spaced as to serve as meeting blocks and be oppositeto the rotating cutting knife 120 also mounted transverse drum 108 eachtime each block 118 passes this point.

The suction drum 100 has a unique suction hole arrangement for holdingthe band or tip material in contact with the surface of the suction drum108. It will be noted that the center suction holes 122 hold the corktip material in contact with the drum 100, but there is a slippage thattakes place between the suction drum 100 and the web TM due to the factthat feed drum 102 is driven at a slower peripheral speed than the drum108 and the web slides on the drum 108.

As the material passes beneath the knife, the leading end of the tipmaterial is severed to form a tip T. The latter, due to the higher speedof the tip drum 100, is carried to the tip applying station D and at thesame time provides spacing between the tip T and the leading end of thetip material TM.

The suction drum 100 is supported by a plate 100 which is pivotallysecured on the shaft of knife 120 and is adjustable by means of anadjusting spindle 111 engaging said plate 109 by means of a swivel stud113. After setting, a suitable lockon screw is turned to hold the plate109 in a secured position. By means of this arrangement it is possibleto move the suction drum towards and away from the assembly drum 72 thusvarying the degree of pressure exerted on the filter tip assembly duringthe uniting band applying operation.

It will be appreciated that while I have shown the suction drumsupporting plate 109 as being pivotally mounted about the shaft of thecutting knife 120, both the cutting knife and the suction drum 108 couldbe otherwise suitably mounted to obtain the same result. The importantfactor to be borne in mind is that the relationship of the cutting knife120 with respect to the suction drum 103 should not be changed so as tointerfere with the proper operation of the uniting band conveying drumand cutting knife.

It will be noted, as shown in FIG. 7, that the holes 124 are positionedadjacent the sides of the suction drum so as to provide a firm gripacross the width of the web TM at the time it is being severed. Asuction cut-off cam 126 is provided for cutting off suction from thecenter holes 122 as they pass the suction cut-off cam 126 therebyavoiding any unnecessary loss of suction.

It will thus be noted that the center holes 122 extend continuouslyaround the center portion of the periphery of the drum 103 while thegroups of side holes 124 are spaced circumferentially around the drum inaccordance with the spacing required by the severed pieces of unitingband material.

After the center holes have passed the cutting station the suctionleading to this portion of the path of travel of the center holes is cutoff while suction still is allowed to act upon the side rows of holes124 which are covered by the severed tip T. It will be noted that thecenter holes are not all covered by the tip T because of the slippageand spacing of the cut tip T that is effected.

As the cigarette assembly drum 72 continues its rotation the insiderollers 74 have their projecting driving end 75 engage with the belt 128which is driven from the drive pulley 130. The belt 12? passes overidler pulleys 132-, 134 and 136. The section of belt between pulleys 132and 134 are held in contact with the driven end 75 of the inside rollers74 to impart rotary movement thereto. This has been found to be verydesirable when operating at cigarette machine speed because by the timethe cigarette assembly is about to have a uniting band applied thereto,it will already have begun to rotate and there will not be any suddenaccelerations of the cigarette assembly at the moment the uniting bandis brought into contact with the assembly. It also has the furtheradvantage that the inside roller 74 does not have to be driven by therubber rings 81 through the cigarette assembly which would subject theassembly to undesirable stresses and disrupt the arrangement of thetobacco filler therein.

The side rollers 76 are shorter than the inside roller 74 and alsoshorter than the assembled cigarette length to permit the side guides 95and 97 to cam the components of each assembly together as shown inFIGURE 5. By the time the assembled cigarettes reach station D they areheld in tight abutting relationship by side guide 95 and guide shoe 99.

The severed length of cork tip material carried by the suction drumrotating in the direction indicated by the arrow is brought into contactwith the assembly of tightly held cigarettes. The rubber belts 81 andthe surface of the drum 108 engage the cigarette assembly and incooperation with driven inside roller 74 positively rotate the cigaretteassembly, causing the tip T to be rolled about the assembly, between therollers 74 and 76, and the suction drum 108.

The stripping fingers 78 ride in the recesses 79 and beside the rubberbelts 81 to lift the banded cigarette assembly away from the drum 108and confine it in the cradle of rollers 74 and 76.

When the assembly of cigarettes having the cork tip T applied thereonreaches the sealing station E they come in contact with a heater drum138 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow, which causes theassembly of cigarettes to be rolled within the nest of rollers and thesealing drum 138 to set and dry the adhesive carried on the cork tipmaterial. During this portion of travel the cigarettes are held in theirpockets formed by rollers 74 and 76 by means of a suitable guide plate140 and the inner rollers 74 are positively rotated by means of belt 128to impart to the cigarette assemblies a rotation similar to thatimparted before and during the application of. the uniting band.

The heating drum 138 may be mounted in a manner similar to that whichsupports the suction drum 108, so that it can be moved towards and awayfrom the assembly drum 72 so as to readily regulate the pressure exertedon the cigarette, when the machine is running, so as to obtain the typeof seal desired.

When the assembled cigarettes reach the station G they drop into thepockets 142 of the cutting drum 144 which rotates in the directionindicated by the arrow. A confining plate 146 surrounds the upperportion of the periphery of the cutting drum 144 and holds the assembledcigarettes in their respective pockets 142. A side guide or plough 148(FIGURE 12) is employed to push the cigarettes up against a stationarystop 149 so as to bring the center of the double filter tip into thepath of the rotating knife 150.

The knife 150 extends into an annular groove 151 formed in the cuttingdrum 144 so as to sever each assembly of cigarettes at their center intotwo filter tip cigarettes. When the cigarettes have been so severed aseparating roller 152 engages with one of said severed cigarettes andpushes it axially away from the cutting knife along the groove 142, soas to provide a space between the severed cigarettes before they aredischarged onto the catcher belts 154.

Every time the kicker plate 281 is moved forward it carries with it thearm bracket 87 which has on its ends a brush 89 and a finger 91. As thekicker plate completes its circulatory path of travel the brush and thefinger will pass through a pair of adjoining spaced nests of rollers 14and 76 on drum 72, clearing out any cigarettes or plug or tobaccomaterial that might have remained in these nested roller holders.

In FIGURES l7 and 18 I have shown another embodiment of my filter tipapparatus, wherein provision has been made for pro-rolling the filterplugs so that they will have a true circular configuration and will beof the correct diameter.

It was found that one of the reasons why a poor joinder was obtainedbetween the cigarette filler and the filter plugs was because the plugsdiffered greatly in their roundness and in their diameter one from theother.

These variations, attributable in part to characteristics of thematerial, and to deformation in shipping and other handling, must befirst corrected, if satisfactory filter tip cigarettes are to beproduced.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 17, a drum 156 is mounted on arotating horizontal shaft 158, which is driven by suitable means (notshown) from the main drive of the cigarette making machine. The drum 156is partially surounded by a concave member 160 which is adjustablysupported by a stub 162 held by a suitable bracket on the frame of themachine.

The mouthpiece material (which may be of sextuple length or any otherdesirable length) is deposited between the concave member and the rollerat the upper portion of the concave from a suitable source of supply,such as the feed hopper 10 shown in FIGURE 1. The rotating roller can berotated continuously in one direction or oscillated if desired to imparta true cylindrical configuration or shape to the mouthpiece material, sothat it will be of the desired diameter. The spacing between the drum156 and the concave 160 may be adjusted by means of suitable screws 162so as to make the mouthpieces of the diameter desired.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 18, I have employed a plurality ofrollers 164, 166, 168 and 170, each of which is partially surrounded bysuitable concave members 172, 174, 176 and 178 arranged and spaced fromtheir respective drums in such manner that as the plugs are advancedbetween one drum and concave, they will enter the space between the nextadjoining drum and concave. When a plug is transferred from the space ofone drum and concave to the space between the next drum and concave, thedirection of rolling effected on the plug will be reversed.

The concave members 172, 174 and 176 and 178 may be adjustably spacedfrom their respective drums by means of suitable adjusting studs 180,182, 184 and 186 projecting through, and coacting with, brackets securedto the machine.

When the plugs have been pre-rolled in the foregoing manner they aredischarged into a reservoir such as 22, in FIG. 1. From this point onthe procedure already described for cutting, conveying, assembling anduniting the components into a filter tip cigarette are followed.

Some manufacturers prefer to make filter tip cigarettes which havehollow mouthpieces formed at the ends thereof. Heretofore, suchcigarettes were manufactured in machines known as stufling machine. Theusual stuffing system employs one machine to manufacture hollow, papertubes complete with the desired type of mouthpiece. These complete tubesare then subsequently stuffed with filler tobacco in another machine.Machines of this type were obviously slow in operation and presentedvarious problems with respect to attaining a uniform filling of thetobacco and also in attaining a desirable abutment between the filterplug material and the filler tobacco.

In the present invention, I have disclosed a method and an apparatus forcarrying the method into effect for making hollow mouthpiece cigarettesas shown in FIG- URES 13-16. In FIGURE 13 I have shown a sextuple lengthof hollow mouthpiece and filter tip material which is made up of ahollow cylindrical paper tube 188 wherein filtering material has beeninserted at evenly spaced intervals. At the ends, the sextuple lengthsof cigarette filter are severed across the filter material, so that theends of the sextuple lengths of filter plug material have single lengthfilter plugs 190 and 192.

The two center filter plugs 194 and 196 are of double lengths just likethe spaces 198, 200 and 202. The sextuple lengths of composite hollowmouthpiece filter plug material shown in FIGURE 13 are stacked in thehopper in the same manner as the filter plug material shown in hopper 10of FIGURE 1. These sextuple lengths of hollow mouthpiece filter plugmaterial are fed from 9 the hopper 10 into a suitable reservoir such asthat shown in FIGURE 1.

From there the sextuple lengths of hollow mouthpiece filter plugmaterial are received on the drum 26 which conveys them to a cuttingstation where they are cut transversely on the periphery of the druminto three double length hollow mouthpiece filter plugs 204, 206 and 268as described heretofore and shown in FIGURES 1 and 14. Each doublelength of hollow mouthpiece filter plug material consists of singlelengths of filter plug material mounted in opposite ends of the doublelength tube so that double length of hollow space is located between thespaced single lengths of filter plug material.

The double length filter plugs are moved laterally relative to eachother by plug separating discs 38, 40 and 42 and are arrangedside-by-side in a column by means of the plug aligning drum 56 shown inFIG. 1. These double length hollow mouthpiece filter plugs are thendischarged in the manner described heretofore onto the assembly drum 72.One of these composite double length filter plugs is deposited into eachpocket so as to position filter plug material and hollow mouthpiecematerial between two cut cigarette lengths.

As the assembly is conveyed around by the assembly drum 72 in the mannerheretofore described, a uniting band 210 is alfixed to join the abuttingcigarette lengths to the ends of the double length composite material inthe manner shown in FIG. 15. Because cigarette lengths have been made bythe machine in the manner to which the manufacturer is accustomed on hisconventional cigarette making machine, the severed ends of the filtertip material are square and the abutting filter tip material which issimilarly square will form a firm abutment between both elements so thatwhen a uniting band is added there will be a firm abutment between thecigarette filler and the hollow mouthpiece filter plug.

The united assembly is then carried to the cutting drum 144 where thedouble length hollow mouthpiece filter plug is severed across itscenter, making two hollow mouthpiece filter plug cigarettes of the typeshown in FIG. 16.

When cigarettes are discharged from the cutting drum, as shown in FIG.12 the filter plugs of the severed cigarette are facing each other. Itis desirable that all the filter plug cigarettes have their filter plugsface in the same direction to facilitate packaging. To avoid thenecessity of having an operator turn one row of cigarettes end for end,I have provided a device in FIGURES l9 and which automatically turns thecigarettes end for end. This device is mounted adjacent to the cuttingdrum shown in FIG. 19 and comprises a disk 212 which rotates in thedirection of the arrow as shown in FIGURES 19 and 20. The disc has apair of spaced stationary walls 214 and 216, shown in FIG. 20, toconfine cigarettes 218 and 220 resting on the disc to travel around withthe disc between the walls 214 and 216. Upper braces 222 and 224 areprovided for maintaining said guide walls at a fixed relationship toeach other When the severed cigarettes reach the rotating rubber roller226 after passing under the cutting knife 228, they are discharged inthe direction indicated by the arrow onto the disc 212. After thecigarettes have been conveyed around the circular path of travel by thedisc 212 they are discharged onto the collecting belt 229 as shown inFIG. 20, and all of the cigarettes have their filter ends facing in thesame direction.

While I have shown the disc 212 arranged at an incline, if desired thisdisc could be arranged horizontally to allow the cigarettes to fall orslide down a chute onto the collecting tape 229.

Another embodiment of a plug feeding apparatus has been disclosed inFIG. 21. This embodiment is particularly desirable for operation at highspeeds if it is found that plugs tend to bridge and avoid falling intothe pockets of a receiving drum. In the structure shown in FIG. 21 thesextuple filter lengths are placed in a suitable hopper 230 which issomewhat similar to the hopper 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the componentsthat obviously correspond to each other are not specifically identifiedin the present embodiment since reference can be made to FIGURE 1 for amore detailed description of these components.

The metering agitator flap 232 is mounted on a shaft 233 which isoscillated by means of a cam lever 235, carrying on its free end a camroller 237. The cam roller 237 engages with a suitable cam 239 mountedon the continuously rotating shaft 241 to which is also secured therefuser 254.

The adjustable flap 232 meters the desirable amount of filters from thebulk supply hopper 230 while the vibrating bottom plate 234 controls thefiow of the metered quantity of sextuple filter lengths and conveys themto the counter rotating rollers 236 and 238.

The bottom vibrating plate 234 extends up to the roller 236. Each of therollers 236 and 238 is deeply grooved and they are controlled so that,as they are rotated, each tooth on either roller always opposes a grooveon the other roller, as shown in FIG. 21. These rollers 236 and 238rotate in opposite directions at the same speed so that the toothrelationship is maintained at all times, the objective being to providea gap through which only one filter may pass at a time, which gaprapidly oscillates in a horizontal plane in order to facilitate thepassage of the filters through the gap.

The oscillating flap 232 is employed to maintain a suitable head ofsextuple length filters over the rollers 236 and 238 at all timeswithout permitting the weight of the bulk of the filters in hopper 230to press on the region where the filters are separated into single file.It has been found in the arrangements just described that the sextuplelength filters never tend to bridge over the rollers 236 and 238 but aresufficiently agitated to circulate freely and flow into single filewithout interruption.

Once the sextuple length filters pass between the rollers 236 and 238they are held in the single file formation by the guides 240 and 242which also act as a reservoir so that even if the fiow is temporarilyinterrupted filters are available to fall into the fiutes 244 of thedrum 246 as required. The drum 246 is made in three parts as shown inFIG. 21 to allow the two circular knives 256 and 258 to sever eachsextuple length filter plug material into three equal double lengths offilter material while being moved forwardly in the grooves 244. Becauseof this, the grooves 244 must support the filters for at least half oftheir circumference in order that the filter plug not be flattened bythe stress imposed when undergoing cutting by the knives 256 and 258.This consequently imposes limitations on the shape of the groove and thelead into it.

It has been found that the shape of the groove as shown in FIG. 21satisfactorily accomplishes this objective. It will be noted that theangle of the lead 248 into the groove 244 is related to the rate atwhich the plugs fall so that the angular lead 248 is so shaped as toobtain the maximum velocity of the filters towards the center of thedrum 246 at the point where the angular lead 248 joins the half roundgroove 244 so that the filters move continuously with a constantacceleration toward the center of the drum 246 from the beginning of thelead 248 until they are delivered.

It will also be noted that the shape of the channel formed by the guides240 and 242 is such that the falling plugs have a component of movementin the direction of the moving drum 246. The shape of the curvature ofthe lower extremity 250 of guide 240 is also of considerable importance.This must be so shaped as to efficiently retain the filters while theplain portion 252 of the drum 246 is passing under the row of filtersand yet as soon as the filters start to move towards the center of thedrum 246 by sliding down the angular lead 248, the curved end 250 ofguide 240 must exert a component force on the filter towards the centerof the drum 246 by reason of tangential force applied by the friction ofthe moving drum 246 and so aid accelerating the filter towards thebottom of the groove 244.

The refuser 254 prevents jamming of the mechanism by any filter that isdisplaced and is not properly seated in the groove 244. Any surplusplug, and any improperly seated plug, will be refused by roller 254,without inter fering with the advance of properly seated plugs towardthe plug cutting knives 256 and 258, thus permitting uninterruptedoperation. The refused plugs may be removed by hand.

To simplify the illustration of the foregoing invention I have omittedshowing the various drives for the component parts since thesecomponents can be driven in synchronism with each other, and with thecigarette machine to which my attachment is secured, in any suitablemanner such as by gears or by sprockets and sprocket chains. For furtherinformation with respect to the subject matter not claimed herein,reference should be made to my copending application S.N. 509,293 ofwhich this is a divisional.

In the foregoing disclosure it will be understood that while referencehas been made to filter plugs, this invention is also equally adaptablefor use with other cylindrical mouthpieces that may not necessarily haveany filtering action.

The invention hereinabove described may be varied in construction withinthe scope of the claims, for the particular device selected toillustrate the invention is but one of many possible embodiments of thesame. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the precisedetails of the structure shown and described.

I claim:

1. The method of making hollow mouthpiece cigarettes which comprises:

(1) Positioning a single length of filter material at each of theopposite ends of a sextuple length of hollow mouthpiece material;

(2) Positioning two axially spaced double lengths of filter material insaid hollow mouthpiece material with an equal amount of space betweenthe double lengths of filter material and between the double lengthfilter material and the single lengths of filter material;

(3) Severing said sextuple length of filter material across the centerof each double length of filter material so as to form three doublelengths of combined hollow mouthpiece and filter tip material.

2. The method according to claim 1 in which said hollow mouthpiecematerial, having said filter material therein, is positioned for saidsevering by moving it in the direction of its longitudinal axis in afirst direction so that a first end thereof abuts against a first stopand severing a first double length filter from the opposite end, thenmoving the two unsevered double lengths in said first direction againsta second stop substantially coplanar with said first stop.

3. The method according to claim 1 which comprises also, conveying saidsextuple length material, with said filter material therein, in asidewise direction, to a first severing station, while moving it axiallyin a first direction until said first end abuts a first stop andsevering a first double length filter from the opposite end, then movingthe two portions thus formed to a second severing station, while movingthe two portions axially in said first direction, until said first endabuts a second stop, substantially coplanar with said first stop.

4. The method of forming double filter assemblies for smoking articles,each of said assemblies having a hollow tube interconnecting a filter ateach end, said method comprising:

(1) Inserting a plurality of double filters in an elongated hollowfilter tube and inserting a single filter at each of the opposed ends ofsaid elongated tube in such manner that each of said filters is spacedfrom the other along said tube at equal distances;

(2) Severing at the middle of each double filter.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4 in which each of said filterassemblies is severed sequentially.

6. The method in accordance with claim 5 in which each of saidassemblies is severed to substantially the same length by pushing afirst end of said elongated tube sequentially against an individual oneof each of a plurality of stops spaced one from another in substantiallythe same vertical plane and severing one of said double assemblies fromthe end remote from each of said stops.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,235,226 7/1917Minnemann.

1,641,222 9/1927 Foisy 83411 1,752,340 4/1930 Hohn 131-94 X 1,771,2957/1930 Hafieigh.

1,885,320 11/1932 Beatty 83 418 2,002,886 5/1935 Edwards et a1. 131942,047,021 7/1936 Friden 834l7 2,123,580 7/1938 Wheless 83411 2,152,4163/1939 Molins 13194 2,165,144 7/1939 Lubbock 13194 2,236,150 3/1941Maltby 83411 2,298,955 10/1942 Mason et al. 83420 2,321,735 6/1943Clifiord 83411 2,398,230 4/1946 Keller 83411 2,539,372 1/1951 Metzler8318 2,617,454 11/1952 Booth 16469.1 2,707,960 5/1955 Janecke 131102,740,409 4/1956 Korber 13194 2,872,981 2/1959 Fitzpatrick 83446 WILLIAMW. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL KOREN, ANDREW R, JUI-IASZ, Examiners.

1. THE METHOD OF MAKING HOLLOW MOUTHPIECE CIGARETTES WHICH COMPRISES:(1) POSITIONING A SINGLE LENGTH OF FILTER MATERIAL AT EACH OF THEOPPOSITE ENDS OF A SEXTUPLE LENGTH OF HOLLOW MOUTHPIECE MATERIAL; (2)POSITIONING TWO AXIALLY SPACED DOUBLE LENGTHS OF FILTER MATERIAL IN SAIDHOLLOW MOUTHPIECE MATERIAL WITH AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF SPACE BETWEEN THEDOUBLE LENGTHS OF FILTER MATERIAL AND BETWEEN THE DOUBLE